Virginia Beach-based Conte’s Bike Shop will open store in Amazon’s HQ2 in Arlington
Conte’s Bike Shop will open a new store early next year in Amazon’s second headquarters in Metropolitan Park in Arlington.
Based in Virginia Beach since 2002, the family-owned business has been on a smooth, steady and methodical ride since its founding as a small neighborhood bicycle repair shop in Newport News in 1957.
Co-owned by David Conte and Wayne Souza, the bicycle sales and service retailer has grown its footprint throughout Virginia and beyond. Today, it boasts a total of 18 stores in Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Washington D.C.
Along with the “HQ2″ offices for 25,000 Amazon employees, Met Park will feature retail, restaurants, green spaces, parks and walking and biking trails.
That’s what makes the retailer of a wide variety of bicycles — including its own private-label 19fiftyseven brand, accessories, bike components and apparel a perfect fit to the sprawling campus.
“Conte’s and Metropolitan Park fit together like a hand in a glove,” Conte said of the business started by his late father. “We believe this will be a great place to share our passion to transform people’s lives through cycling and to further perpetuate our niche … ”
Souza said they have been following the headlines around Amazon coming to Northern Virginia.
“We knew this would be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to serve one of our home communities,” he said.
The city of Arlington has a rich bicycling culture in place, but with Amazon’s entrance to the market comes additional infrastructure and accessibility offering more protected bike lanes and bicycle storage both inside and outside of the new headquarters. The e-commerce giant also maintains its headquarters in Seattle.
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com
